Raphinha talks Gavi, penalties and hat-trick after MOTM display vs Sevilla | OneFootball

Raphinha was the star of the show as Barcelona secured a comprehensive 5-2 victory over Sevilla at Camp Nou.

It was a sensational performance from the Brazilian international, who had been struggling with form lately. He capped off his performance with a brilliant hat-trick that will go a long way in helping him boost his confidence heading into the Newcastle United clash.

Speaking to the media after the game, Raphinha talked about his performance this afternoon, as well as the return of Gavi and other things.

What Raphinha said after Barcelona 5-2 Sevilla

Summing up Barcelona’s display against Sevilla, Raphinha lauded his team’s effort and mentality.

“Our mindset with our fans has always been to deliver a good match. We worked well throughout the week, and on our home ground, we have to give our all. I think we delivered a very good match,” he said.

Although Raphinha’s hat-trick included two penalties, he was still delighted with the performance, having now netted three hat-tricks since joining Barcelona.

“Honestly, I’m thrilled, because scoring a hat-trick isn’t something that happens every day. It’s something incredibly special. Scoring my third one here at the Camp Nou with Barcelona and in this stadium makes it even more unique,” he said.

It was a special afternoon for Raphinha. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Talking of penalties, the Brazilian was asked how he never used to take penalties before joining Leeds United and how he had to change himself at Barça.

“Sometimes you have to change things up a bit, because the goalkeeper starts to anticipate what you’re going to do. When you change the method, it throws the goalkeeper off a little and makes him think,” he said about the Panenka goal.

When taking the penalty for the second time, Raphinha admitted he had to change his approach as the goalkeeper might have been expecting another Panenka.

“I had to change it. If I had taken the kick the same way, the goalkeeper might have saved it. So it’s important to have more than one option for taking penalty kicks to confuse the goalkeeper,” he added.

Finally, Raphinha expressed his delight at the return of Gavi, who received a standing ovation after coming on as a substitute late in the game. He revealed the decision of giving Gavi the captain’s armband.

“We’re absolutely delighted for him. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a while. We know that Gavi always wants to be on the pitch, and his spirit is that of a fighter. Having him back on the pitch is something special for us too,” he said.

“During the substitution, I spoke with Ronald and we decided to give him the captain’s armband for his return, and I think that was a special moment for him,” he concluded.

Source: BarçaTV+